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2nd TFO Awards PART 4: Aural Categories

Best Original Music Score

Best Adapted Music / Song Score

Best Original Song

Best Sound Editing

Best Sound Mixing

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Best Original Music Score

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The Ghost Writer – Alexandre Desplat

The music itself makes the film a lot classier. There is mystery, sophistication, and the chill that it evokes in every time the music swells. The music was a very helpful instrument in heightening the creeping tension in the film. It makes the audience excited in what is going to happen in the film.

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How to Train Your Dragon – John Powell

It’s as sweeping as animated film music scores can get. The film understands the scope of the perspective of the lead character and the overwhelming feeling whenever a dragon appears, and the music takes advantage of that to bring epic music that mixes breathtaking orchestrations with a soaring feeling.

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Inception – Hans Zimmer

Right from the start of the film, the music beholds you to the environment of the film. While the images are a spectacular sight, it is the music that makes you experience the feeling of seeing that if you were actually one of the characters. What builds up in the first parts of the film explodes into a massive and powerful last part of the film which the music moves in perfect synchronization.

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Shake Rattle and Roll 12 (PUNERARYA Episode) – Jerrold Tarog

Registers each music piece with eerie fantasy feeling. The music slowly uncovers each dimension of the story quite well with the perfect use of rhythm and timing, coming from the fact that the one composed the music is also the director of this film – what a genius! With all of the frustratingly noisy horror film scores around, it is really a welcome treat to hear music that is as fresh as this one.

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The Social Network – Atticus Ross, Teent Reznor

Invading the film with full dynamic blast, the music of the film teases us to actually feel the world of the college life they had – somewhat drugged, sex-oriented, always unsure, blurry angst. It all comes greatly when you watch the scenes where the music does a lot of work to either make the scenario as real as possible or evoke the emotions as powerful as possible. Quite a revolutionary work.

Best Adapted Music / Song Score

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Black Swan – Jim Black, Clint Mansell, Gabe Hilfer

It’s quite a terrific job when you think of it. The ballet becomes the obsession of the main character, and the work of Tchaikovsky mixing with Mansell’s original work and the line that differentiates the work of the two blurring into the music’s hypnotic power – just sheer brilliance.

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Blue Valentine – Grizzly Bear, Joe Rudge

The juvenile melancholy that the songs bring into the film is such a welcome treat to further add texture to this bittersweet tale of marriage and complications.

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Flipped – Marc Shaiman

Nostalgia carried well by the appropriately chosen music doesn’t hurt the seriousness of the film. It adds more atmosphere to the film, which makes the much more delightful to see..

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I Am Love – John Adams, Jen Moss

When a preexisting music fits perfectly with a director’s vision, it really is something. It’s almost impossible to believe that the music was not composed specifically for the film, because it really feels it is.

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – Nigel Godrich, Kathy Nelson

Well, the music appropriately sounds trashy and noisy, but it gives the film the energy that makes the film enjoyable to watch.

Semi-Finalists: Going the Distance, Love and Other Drugs

Best Original Song

I have appreciated it more on repeated listening. It works best when you listen to it with the movie. Nevertheless, it is an inspiring soul that rings true to its soulfulness. And when you think of all the struggle of the lead character of the film.

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“Made in Dagenham” – Made in Dagenham; Music and Lyrics: David Arnold, Billy Bragg

Again, a very hopeful song. It sounds very specific, period-wise, and it echoes classic songs of the 60’s, but the beauty of the song is timeless. Worth listening to whenever you’re down and you need some cheering up.

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“Me and Tennessee” – Country Strong; Music and Lyrics: Chris Martin

Very beautifully written and so melodically catchy. In some ways, it is a straightforward song that makes you think of a story that is hidden in it. The duet is a hit, it is a very romantic yet bittersweet song that can stand on its own.

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“Sticks and Stones” – How to Train Your Dragon; Music and Lyrics: Jonsi

Rousing song to the extreme. After the soaring musical score of the film, all you need is an energetic ode to being the best that you can and you’ve sold me the upbeat ending of this exciting film.

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“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” – Burlesque; Music and Lyrics: Diane Warren

At first, it may just sound like Cher’s pronouncement that she’s still here, but there’s actually a lot of emotional punch of it. Again, it is quite hopeful, but there’s bitterness in it, and that makes this song more compelling.

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Gold: “Sticks and Stones” – How to Train Your Dragon; Music and Lyrics: Jonsi

Silver: “Me and Tennessee” – Country Strong; Music and Lyrics: Chris Martin

Bronze: “Made in Dagenham” – Made in Dagenham; Music and Lyrics: David Arnold, Billy Bragg

Runners-Up: “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” – Burlesque, “If I Rise” – 127 Hours